PITTSBURGH — Former Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris died on Dec. 21, just two days before the 50th anniversary of his legendary play, the Immaculate Reception.
He was 72.
The play, which helped propel the Steelers to greatness, was recently voted the greatest play in NFL history. The Steelers were scheduled to honor Harris before and at halftime of the Christmas Eve game with the Las Vegas Raiders, the franchise that was involved in that infamous 1972 play.
The cause of Harris’ death was not immediately known.
“We have lost an incredible football player, an incredible ambassador to the Hall and most importantly, we have lost one of the finest gentlemen anyone will ever meet,” Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement. “Franco not only impacted the game of football, but he also affected the lives of many, many people in profoundly positive ways.”
Harris was a legend in Pittsburgh.
He ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers in the 1970s. He was also the MVP of the Steelers’ first Super Bowl victory, a 16-6 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX.
The Immaculate Reception happened on Dec. 23, 1972, with Pittsburgh trailing 7-6 and facing fourth-and-10 from their own 40-yard line and 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw drifted back and threw deep to running back Frenchy Fuqua. Fuqua and Oakland Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum collided, sending the ball careening back toward midfield in the direction of Harris. It appeared that the collision ended the Steelers’ hopes that day.
However, while nearly everyone else on the field stopped, Harris ran toward the collision, snatching the ball just inches above the Three Rivers Stadium turf near the Oakland 45-yard line. He then outraced several stunned Raider defenders to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in the franchise’s four-decade history.
“That play really represents our teams of the ’70s,” Harris said after the Immaculate Reception was voted the greatest play in NFL history during the league’s 100th anniversary season in 2020.
Harris, of course, has strong Penn State ties.
He was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 7, 1950. He played at Penn State, where he was backfield mates with Lydell Mitchell. While Mitchell got most of the attention, the Steelers saw enough to select Harris with the 13th overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft. Harris was often a fixture in the suites at Penn State games. He often lobbied for the restoration of wins taken from former coach Joe Paterno’s record during the Sandusky scandal.
